Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 36
by Little PandaDrinking
The cross-cup wine
She likes sports, and I like to accommodate and enjoy. Wei Hui’s words had an unexpected effect. After the first game, everyone’s gaze toward her and Shiyi changed. The previously impressive President Wei, who they thought would be dominant in bed, turned out to be submissive, and contentedly so!
This was far from what they had imagined. Even Luo Zhouping frowned and looked toward Shiyi nearby. No wonder she didn’t like his advances – this was the reason. He couldn’t become a woman…
Thinking this, he shifted his body and coughed lightly to break the awkwardness: “Come on, let’s continue to the next round.”
Everyone was still processing Wei Hui’s words when Shiyi was drinking mineral water. Du Yuemeng patted her shoulder: “Wow, Shiyi! Who knew you were so fierce!”
“This is way more impressive than using cheats!”
Two secretaries following behind her looked at her with sudden admiration, and one offered her snacks: “Eat more to replenish your energy.”
Shiyi gratefully replied: “Thank you.”
She took out a piece of chocolate, and just as she opened the wrapper, Du Yuemeng said: “I realize I’ve been asking the wrong questions.”
Shiyi bit into the chocolate, which was slightly bitter then sweet when swallowed. She smiled: “What questions?”
Du Yuemeng said: “Who knew you were such a powerhouse? So, how is President Wei in bed? Is she cooperative?”
Shiyi nearly choked on her chocolate!
A few minutes later, she finally understood what Wei Hui had said, learning about it not from the secretaries but from Du Yuemeng’s group chat message.
—Hey, guess what big secret I discovered!
—What is it?
—You went traveling today? Without me!
—Yuemeng, when should we meet up next time? We haven’t been to that downtown bar for half a month.
Du Yuemeng rolled her eyes and typed rapidly on her phone: Does no one care about my secret? Fine, I’m leaving then.
—No, no, no, Miss Du, please tell us!
—Yuemeng, tell us, tell us.
—You’ve got us all curious, I’ll strangle you if you don’t tell us now!
Du Yuemeng smiled gleefully and continued typing: You know Wei Hui? She’s actually submissive!
The group chat remained silent for exactly three minutes before erupting into chaos. Shiyi, who initially didn’t understand the concept of dominant/submissive roles, began to grasp it from their chat. She bit her lip, blushing at the increasingly wild chat messages, and simply put away her phone to look at Wei Hui.
The Third Miss surely didn’t know that Du Yuemeng had spread her casual remark throughout the entire lesbian circle.
Wei Hui was busy dealing with Luo Zhouping. Since finalizing the abandoned building project, he had other things in mind. His company had just gotten on track, and he wanted to use the Wei Tian Group as a guarantee for financing. Wei Hui smiled lightly at his greedy demeanor: “Vice President Luo, even if I agreed, the other board members wouldn’t approve.”
“President Wei, I, Luo Zhouping, have been with Wei Tian for over twenty years. If not for my achievements, at least consider my hard work. This small favor doesn’t need board approval – you can handle it yourself, don’t you agree?”
Wei Hui just smiled without responding. Luo Zhouping knew he couldn’t rush this matter, so he said: “Come on, let’s not talk business today, let’s have fun!”
The other secretaries had gathered around. Having recovered from their earlier shock, they sat beside the two, and even Shiyi joined them.
“What should we play?” the head secretary said: “No more exercise – mountain climbing nearly killed us, and all that jumping around made my bones ache. How about something else?”
“Truth or Dare?” one secretary suggested, only to be smacked on the head by another: “That’s so boring! We played it to death in school!”
“True.”
“Just because we’ve played it before doesn’t mean we can’t play it now?” Du Yuemeng winked at the secretaries nearby, glancing at Shiyi and Wei Hui. Everyone caught her meaning, responding with knowing “ohs,” and immediately said: “Let’s play!”
Shiyi scratched her head and asked Wei Hui beside her: “Third Miss, what’s Truth or Dare?”
Her gaze was pure and captivating, sparkling like it held two stars, with an incredibly beautiful hue. Sitting close together, Wei Hui turned her head and met those eyes, which reflected her own small image. Her breath caught as she replied: “It’s an adventure game. Want to play?”
Shiyi, worried about physical exertion, asked in a smaller voice: “Is it like running and jumping?”
Wei Hui, who never lied or teased people, suddenly felt playful and teased her: “Yes, it is.”
Shiyi’s face fell: “I don’t want to play.”
Her emotions were all written on her face, expressions rich and lively, completely different from her timid appearance when first brought to the Wei family. In just over a month, Shiyi had regained some childlike nature. Wei Hui lowered her eyes and said softly: “No adventures, just play along.”
Shiyi never doubted her words and always did as she was told, nodding: “Okay.”
With complete trust and not a hint of doubt in her words, Wei Hui’s lips curved up as she heard the head secretary ask: “Will President Wei join us too?”
After thinking for a moment, she replied: “Sure.”
The dare game was Du Yuemeng’s suggestion, originally intended to learn about Wei Hui and Shiyi’s private affairs, but after a few rounds, her own past was being exposed instead. From her first love to any mischief during her minor years, everything was revealed. She finally begged: “Next game, next game! This one’s unfair, it’s targeting me specifically!”
It was Shiyi’s first time playing, and though hesitant at first, she gradually got into it. Since Du Yuemeng was always the one being questioned, just watching her reactions was enough to laugh for hours. So gradually, she loosened up and enjoyed the game. However, from start to finish, neither she nor Wei Hui were questioned.
This made her even happier.
The next few rounds of games were also entertaining. Since everyone was exhausted from mountain climbing, they didn’t have energy for more active games, so they just sat and played all afternoon, grilling some food when hungry – quite comfortable.
Dinner was at the hotel, arranged by Luo Zhouping. After everyone helped clean up the barbecue feast, they headed to the hotel. Shiyi’s attention remained on Wei Hui the whole time. Seeing her normal expression, she felt relieved and followed behind everyone. Over the afternoon, the secretaries had gotten to know her, with some eagerly trying to befriend her, but while Shiyi accepted their enthusiasm, she didn’t reciprocate.
She could tell they were different from Du Yuemeng.
At the hotel, the server opened a large private room [private dining room in restaurants]. Everyone filed in, and Shiyi was seated beside Wei Hui. When she tried to wash Wei Hui’s cup, her wrist was caught: “It’s fine, use it as is.”
Shiyi didn’t ask why, just nodded: “Okay.”
She poured tea for Wei Hui, and the dishes arrived quickly. After spending the afternoon eating barbecue outside, no one was too hungry, so dinner became a drinking occasion. Since most attendees were women, the alcohol served was low in proof. No one dared to toast Wei Hui, but they frequently raised their glasses to Shiyi. Shiyi glanced at Wei Hui, and seeing no objection, she stood up, gently clinked glasses, and drank.
The light yellow liquor flowed down her throat, sweet with a slight burning sensation, though the feeling was quickly overtaken by the alcohol’s fragrance. After two glasses, she found it quite enjoyable and wanted more.
When she thought no one was watching, Shiyi quietly tried to pour herself a third glass but was suddenly caught by the wrist. She turned to see Wei Hui shaking her head: “This alcohol has a strong aftereffect, drink less.”
Being someone who had never drunk before, she certainly couldn’t handle it.
Shiyi, like a child caught misbehaving, shyly replied: “I understand.”
She put down her glass: “I won’t drink anymore.”
Her obedience brought a smile to Wei Hui’s brow, but before she could speak, Luo Zhouping said: “Come on, you’re all just drinking among yourselves without toasting President Wei! Come, President Wei, let me toast you.”
Everyone knew Wei Hui never touched alcohol, and in all her years at Wei Tian, she had never made an exception. But now with Shiyi beside her, she had broken that rule once. Whether Luo Zhouping could make her break it a second time remained to be seen.
The two had always been in a state of competition at the company, which everyone knew well. The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and those holding chopsticks put them down, wanting to see how Wei Hui would respond. As she stared at the glass before her, about to speak, a voice came from beside her: “Mr. Luo, that’s not right.”
Du Yuemeng said coolly: “As they say, guests come first. I’m here representing my brother, so by rights, the first toast to President Wei should be from me, don’t you agree?”
Luo Zhouping glared angrily at Du Yuemeng, unsure whether she was doing this intentionally or not, wondering how he had offended her. She had ruined several of his plans that afternoon, nothing going his way, and now she was interfering again. It was infuriating!
Du Yuemeng ignored his face that had turned the color of pig’s liver [meaning: flushed with anger]. She raised her glass: “President Wei, by all rights, I should toast you on my brother’s behalf. However, since I’m also friends with Shiyi, how about this: I’ll drink two glasses, and you two share one cross-cup wine [traditional Chinese wedding custom where newlyweds cross arms to drink wine together], how’s that?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the other secretaries started cheering: “Cross-cup wine! Cross-cup wine!”
This time, Shiyi understood Du Yuemeng’s meaning without translation. She looked at Wei Hui in panic, only to see her smiling with pressed lips as she raised her glass: “Sure.”
“Sure.”
That response exploded like muffled thunder in Shiyi’s ears, causing momentary dizziness. Before she could react, Wei Hui had already raised her hand, placing the glass in it. They gazed at each other as Wei Hui lifted her glass and drank the fruit wine. They were so close that Shiyi could clearly see her eyelashes, each one distinct, long and curled, her deep-set features, and her elegant nose tip almost touching Shiyi’s cheek. Shiyi’s face flushed red, and amidst the cheering, she heard Wei Hui’s cool voice: “Drink.”
She closed her eyes briefly and, with a reverent and respectful heart, drank the wine in her hand.
It was too sweet.
So sweet that she forgot how the dinner ended, her mind hazy, feeling as if walking on clouds. She followed Wei Hui back to the room in a daze when someone patted her shoulder. She turned to see Du Yuemeng’s grinning face: “Have fun tonight!”
She shook her head, staring blankly, stammering: “Okay.”
Du Yuemeng saw her dazed state and smiled: “Oh right, I have a gift for you.”
“I’ve been wanting to give this to you but never had the chance.” She took out a small brown bottle from her pocket, winking: “It’s my best private collection, here, for you.”
Shiyi held the bottle: “Private collection?”
“It’s simple to use, just apply some after showering.”
Shiyi understood, thinking it must be similar to the skincare products Third Miss had given her. She nodded: “Okay, thank you, I’ll use it.”
Du Yuemeng watched her enter the room with the bottle and smiled with narrowed eyes, thinking Shiyi would surely thank her even more tomorrow!
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